Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2021, Journalism (Communication)

The German relation to Israel is marked by its historic circumstances, namely the Shoah and the antisemitism which made it possible, but also cooperation between the two countries nowadays. Previous research on the portrayal of Israel in German print media, in particular during times of escalation in the Arab-Israeli conflict, have found a bias against Israel. This study provides an analysis of the media image of Israel in German online news media during a low-escalation period in the Arab-Israeli conflict, accounting for the changes in the media landscape due to digitalization and providing a comparison to traditional media. A sample by five German news outlets – Bild.de, n-tv.de, Spiegel.de, t-online.de and Zeit.de – during a 2019 low escalation-phase was analyzed using a structural objectivity content analysis. A focus was put on the overall evaluation as well as the topics and actors who can be found in the reporting. The findings show an overall balanced depiction with some outliers, in contrast to the portrayal of Israel during periods with high conflict.

Committee: Alexander Godulla (Committee Chair); Jatin Srivastava (Committee Co-Chair); Freya Sukalla (Committee Member) Subjects: Journalism; Mass Communications; Mass Media

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2021, Journalism (Communication)

Spread of mis- and dis-information has emerged as one of the most concerning threat to democratic processes in the United States. Who is to blame for such a rise in the spread of mis- and dis-information is yet to be decided, however, this study aimed to explore how such forms of information is consumed and believed by the audiences. This research expands on our understanding of how ideological cues work to promote mis/disinformation consumption along with other factors like, political opinion leaders, cognitive dissonance and personal ideology. Furthermore, the study explores the two-step selective evaluation process, which an information consumer goes through before making any decision on the information. The decision is then further rationalized in post-decisional effects. A survey experiment was conducted on 429 respondents who showed that any information content will be palatable to them if those information carries ideologically confirming cues. Moreover, the study used opinion leader as manipulation to test cognitive dissonance, consonance, and resonance against the personal ideology of the respondents to further divulge into the process of mis/disinformation consumption. A deductive thematic analysis of audience responses gives a direction to the decision-making process when faced with congruent or incongruent information.

Committee: Victoria LaPoe (Advisor) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Communication; Journalism; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Political Science

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2018, Media and Communication

Since March 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a brutal civil war. Since the start of the war, over 470,000 Syrians have lost their lives. This conflict has led to over 13.5 million Syrians who are in need of humanitarian aid. Over 6 million Syrians have been internally displaced and more than 5 million are refugees living outside of Syria, resulting in the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Syrian citizens and refugees have faced arduous conditions, as evidenced by three-year-old Syrian child Aylan Kurdi's body washing ashore in Bodrum, Turkey in September 2015 as his family attempted to flee their homeland. To date, no studies have examined refugees through the scope of alternative media. Responding to this lack of research, this dissertation examines media framing of Syrian refugees. Informed by Orientalism, Framing Theory, and Critical Race Theory, the dissertation employs qualitative content analysis to analyze language and images used in 473 articles from a strategic selection of alternative media organizations. It incorporates diachronic analysis of media articles released during the two-week period preceding and succeeding three distinct critical incidents: first, the body of three-year-old Syrian child, Aylan Kurdi, washing ashore in Bodrum, Turkey; second, the Paris massacre; and, third, Donald Trump's first executive order attempting to ban refugees from Syria and six other predominantly Muslim countries. This analysis of change in a phenomenon over time repositions framing by considering it as a changing concept rather than a fixed thought. Additionally, this dissertation advances Oliver Boyd-Barrett's definition of alternative media by considering their role in operating on the fringes of political spheres. Overall, U.S. political right media emphasized refugee threat, while the left focused on refugee victimization. As such, both left and right media removed refugees' humanity and agency. Furthermore, of the 473 articles analyzed, onl (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Lara Lengel PhD (Advisor); Nicole Kalaf-Hughes PhD (Other); Ellen Gorsevski PhD (Committee Member); Lisa Hanasono PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2021, Journalism (Communication)

The public primarily learns about scientific information from the news media. These news media have been, unfortunately, found guilty of fueling: biased coverage of climate change, misinformation about climate change, and politicization of climate science. “Disinformation outfits,” who are comprised of industry actors, prominent climate change deniers, and their organizations also used or attempted to use the news media to discredit climate scientists with the goal of accelerating the level of public uncertainty about global climate change and slow action to prevent it. This thesis explores how the news media discussed a small but very vocal cohort of climate change denialists throughout the 1990s. The use of “fake experts” has been found to be one of the most powerful techniques for effective misinformation campaigns. This paper examines the inclusion of key climate change skeptics via quantitative content analysis in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Times of London from 1989-2006. This paper also researches the prevalence of legitimization strategies iv that weaker parties use to amplify their messaging. The results find that skeptic inclusion was much higher in U.S. conservative papers than U.K. conservative papers. Left-center papers were more likely to include “compromised” scientists and discuss climate change controversies than conservative papers. Conservative papers were more likely to include irrelevant “fake experts” and actively misuse and misrepresent scientific information, as well discredit climate scientists. Skeptics were discussed more during years of particular significance to climate change history suggesting they were capitalizing on media opportunity structures. This thesis also found evidence of early “source hacking,” or the targeting of journalists to spread misinformation.

Committee: Mike Sweeney Dr. (Committee Member); Rosanna Planer (Committee Member); Alexander Godulla Dr. (Committee Chair) Subjects: Environmental Science; History; International Relations; Journalism; Science History; World History

BA, Kent State University, 2019, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

In this thesis, I describe research from multiple sources regarding juror bias and jury selection that requires the phrase “innocent until proven guilty” to be reexamined. Throughout this thesis, I examine juror bias in regards to social media and how information can easily be distributed to jury members that could harm the case, how jurors may be unaware of terminology and/or specific criminal justice topics and look to the Internet to teach them, and predispositions that they may have in terms of race, gender, sexuality. Next, I refer to issues with challenges during voir dire and how these challenges sometimes keep defendants from receiving a fair jury with their peers. I will discuss in detail how these challenges can negatively and positively affect cases. Lastly, I give policy and legislation recommendations to keep juror bias at bay, thus creating more fair and impartial trials for future defendants.

Committee: Michelle Foster (Advisor); Jessica Paull (Committee Member); Sarah Smiley (Committee Member); Rachael Blasiman (Committee Member) Subjects: Criminology; Law; Sociology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2019, Media and Communication

Matrimonial advertisements are popular in India for people who seek spouses through marriages arranged either by the prospective bride or groom themselves, or their family. Earlier, such arrangements were made mostly by family elders. Today, many of those offline networks have moved onto the online space, with a number of matrimonial websites offering help to spouse seekers. The role of such websites is to enable match seekers create profiles online and seek matches, based on particular search algorithms. There are various filters to narrow search options: one such filter is skin tone. This study analyzes skin tone determinant—specifically the usage of the term fair—on two matrimonial websites. It explores the ways in which agency is handled by prospective brides on Shaadi.com and Bharat Matrimony.com. Research question is how autonomy is mobilized by women today when dealing with colorism in online matrimonial ads. Following grounded theory, the study deciphers whether there are changes to how matrimonial ads are worded in online spaces, or whether caste and race continue to be reinforced through covert colorism. Using cyber ethnography and textual analysis, the study analyzes 30 advertisements across two websites. In-depth interviews are also conducted with four women who underwent a similar process during their wedding. Data analysis arrived at five emergent themes: Continued hegemonic control/covert colorism; Fair as beautiful; Privileging work and independence; Power over content creation; Traditional/cultural values reinforced. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) and a feminist perspective as theoretical foundations, findings indicated the digital space perpetuates colorism. Although overt presentation of skin complexion as a critical attribute has significantly reduced, such reduction is overt. Consistent with CRT, the concept of fair as beautiful remains salient; it is just more covert. The demand for a fair-skinned spouse was low; yet, skin tone w (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Radhika Gajjala Dr. (Advisor); Lara Martin Lengel Dr. (Committee Member); Deborah G. Wooldridge Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Mass Communications

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2015, Psychology/Clinical

Having extra body fat places one in a low-status social group. People with obesity face numerous negative social consequences such as stigma and prejudice. This stigma exists in many domains including interpersonal relationships, work, school, and mass media. In television and film, characters with obesity are rare and when present they are often the targets of humor and ridicule. Research has established that attitudes toward stereotyped groups can be affected by short-term exposure to stereotypical media portrayals. Additionally, humorous presentation of disparaging stereotype-related information can alter expression of attitudes toward low-status groups. This study sought to uncover how humor and disparagement interact to affect individuals' attitudes about people with obesity. In Study 1, participants were randomly assigned to read a list of derogatory jokes about obesity, read a list of derogatory comments about obesity, or read jokes that were unrelated to obesity. All participants were then asked to report their 1) attitudes toward people with obesity in several domains, 2) level of belief in stereotypes about obesity and 3) judgment of the social acceptability of jokes about obesity. Participants' scores on these dependent measures did not differ across groups. There were no significant interactions between the independent variable and any participant characteristics. Study 2 was designed to 1) present participants with a stronger stimulus and 2) detect effects for the gender of the recipient of the derogatory humor. Participants were shown a compilation of video clips from film and television programs that featured derogatory humor targeting an obese character. They were randomly assigned to either watch videos that targeted female characters, watch videos that targeted male characters. Dependent variables were identical to Study 1. Participants' scores on these dependent measures did not differ across groups and there were no significant (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert Carels (Advisor); Gary Heba (Committee Member); Anne Gordon (Committee Member); William O'Brien (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2015, Communication

This study aimed to understand the role of positive and negative feedback on attitude, behavioral intention and shared reality. Through the lens of the social cognitive theory (SCT), grounding theory, social identity theory (SIT) and social identity model of deindividualization effects (SIDE), the study focused on memes that portrayed colorism (i.e., intragroup discrimination). African American participants viewed a meme portraying dark-skinned Blacks as poor on Twitter that received negative or positive feedback through comments and emoticons. Overall, participants who viewed memes receiving positive feedback reported more negative attitudes towards sharing the meme. Furthermore, when the meme received positive feedback, participants reported less identification with the commenter. Although the study provided a glimpse into colorism within social media, skewed data hinder external validity. Future research will address this issue.

Committee: Roselyn Lee-Won (Advisor); Osei Appiah (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2014, Journalism (Communication)

The study researched the employment of traditional gender and racial frames and stereotypes by major news media agencies in the coverage of Democratic Party's process of picking a presidential nominee in 2007-2008. The study analyzed coverage of the Democratic nomination process broadcast on the Big Three television networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC from September 3, 2007 until Hillary Clinton's decision to withdraw from the race on June 7, 2008. Results show that in their coverage television networks used gender stereotypes and frames, and at the same time refrained from using racial stereotypes and frames. The study concluded that gender frames and stereotypes used in the coverage of Hillary Clinton had negatively affected Clinton's popularity and perception by the public.

Committee: Michael Sweeney (Committee Chair) Subjects: Journalism; Mass Communications

Master of Liberal Studies, University of Toledo, 2012, Liberal Studies

The study seeks to answer whether or not there was imbalance in news reporting in the three newspapers with the largest circulation in the country during the healthcare reform debate: USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. The results of this study show that a majority of the 986 articles reviewed were found to be neutral in terms of news reporting. In the remaining articles, however, articles in the USA Today and The New York Times were found to lean slightly toward the pro-reform/liberal perspective, while articles in The Wall Street Journal leaned slightly toward the anti-reform/conservative perspective.

Committee: James Benjamin (Advisor); Paul Fritz (Committee Member); Sumitra Srinivasan (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Journalism; Mass Communications; Mass Media

Master of Liberal Studies, University of Toledo, 2011, Liberal Studies

Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov was the leader of the Soviet Union from November 12, 1982 until his death on February 9, 1984. During this period, Yuri Andropov was reported on extensively in the New York Times and Chicago Tribune. The polemical cleavage between the traditionally left-wing New York Times and the right-wing populist Chicago Tribune was minimal in their respective coverage of Andropov‟s tenure as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Notwithstanding the issue of nuclear arms control, the Left-Right deviation between the two newspapers did not exist. Both newspapers exhibited a center-right orientation in their coverage of Mr. Andropov in particular and the Soviet Union as a whole.

Committee: Michael Jakobson PhD. (Committee Chair); Lawrence Anderson-Huang PhD. (Advisor); David Davis PhD. (Committee Member) Subjects: Russian History

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2010, International Development Studies (International Studies)

The thesis is a case study of the Chinese nationalist movements after the Tibet riots in 2008. It is a qualitative research study. I use critical theory to analyze the stimulus of the movement, the new characteristics of the movement, as well as its impact to the country and international society. My study indicates that narrative bias in China and the West has been the main obstacle for dialogue between China and the West, as well as China and Tibet. Hence, more communicative actions are necessary for conciliation.

Committee: Jie-Li Li (Committee Chair); Takaaki Suzuki (Committee Member); Vibert C. Cambridge (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Mass Media; Political Science; Sociology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2012, Psychology/Clinical

Despite the fact that more than two-thirds of Americans are overweight, many members of this numerical majority are subject to a stigma that is attached to having extra body weight (Puhl & Brownell, 2003a). Weight stigma exists in all major areas of our society: stigmatized individuals face negative economic, interpersonal, mental health, and physical health outcomes (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). One possible effect of continual stigmatization is the eventual internalization of stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs (Durso & Latner, 2008; Lillis, Luoma, Levin, & Hayes, 2010). The internalization of stigma is related to poorer mental and physical health while at the same time harming an individual's likelihood of successful health behavior change (Puhl, Moss-Racusin, & Schwartz, 2007). One specific agent for the promulgation of negative attitudes about weight is the media (Ata & Thompson, 2010). Evidence exists to show that the media, especially commercial television, is a force that shapes attitudes, values, beliefs, and even behaviors (Bryant & Oliver, 2008). This study sought to determine whether media consumption was related to internalized weight stigma in a sample of weight loss treatment seeking adults. Results indicate a small positive correlation between television use and internalized weight bias. Post hoc analyses indicate significant relationships between television use and depression, binge eating behavior, and decreased body satisfaction. Implications for models of stigma development, therapeutic interventions, and future research are discussed.

Committee: Robert Carels PhD (Advisor); Anne Gordon PhD (Committee Member); William O'Brien PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Sciences; Mental Health; Public Health; Social Psychology